Estimating Livestock Forage Demand: Defining the Animal Unit

Authors

Tonya L. Meyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Don C. Adams, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jerry D. Volesky, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Leslie Aaron Stalker, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Richard N. Funston, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2009

Comments

Published in 2009 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report (Lincoln, NE: December, 2008). Copyright © 2008 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Animals were housed in individual pens and fed high quality (11% CP) meadow hay ad libitum daily to evaluate the effect of a beef animal’s physiological state (cow-calf pair vs. dry cow vs. yearling steer) on forage intake. Daily diet samples were composited by week and analyzed. Refusals were collected, composited by week per pen and analyzed. Dry matter intake (DMI) was different among treatments. The results indicate different physiological states or classes of cattle should be considered when calculating forage demand for stocking rate or feeding purposes.